{"id":81508,"date":"2025-06-04T05:33:31","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T13:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2025\/06\/04\/alcohol-industry-exec-says-regulation-not-prohibition-is-the-responsible-path-for-intoxicating-hemp-drinks-op-ed\/"},"modified":"2025-06-04T19:47:38","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T03:47:38","slug":"alcohol-industry-exec-says-regulation-not-prohibition-is-the-responsible-path-for-intoxicating-hemp-drinks-op-ed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2025\/06\/04\/alcohol-industry-exec-says-regulation-not-prohibition-is-the-responsible-path-for-intoxicating-hemp-drinks-op-ed\/","title":{"rendered":"Alcohol Industry Exec Says Regulation, Not Prohibition Is The Responsible Path For Intoxicating Hemp Drinks (Op-Ed)"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s be clear\u2014\u2019Big Alcohol\u2019 isn\u2019t looking to take over hemp. We\u2019re offering decades of experience, hard-earned knowledge and a system that works.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

By Francis Creighton, Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s trendiest adult beverage isn\u2019t a cocktail or a funky new wine from a new-to-you region. It isn\u2019t a beer\u2014though it may come in a can. It isn\u2019t a distilled spirit\u2014but it can come in a 750ml bottle.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re talking about intoxicating beverages containing THC derived from \u201cindustrial hemp.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hemp? THC? Isn\u2019t that just cannabis?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes and no. While they both have the same chemical makeup, \u201chemp\u201d has a distinct legal classification that \u201ccannabis\u201d does not. As a result, products containing hemp-derived THC exist in a truly confusing legal grey area few could have imagined just a few years ago.<\/p>\n

In 2018, Congressed passed a provision within the Farm Bill that federally legalized industrial hemp. What is industrial hemp? It\u2019s the cannabis plant, but with only a small amount of THC\u2014not zero THC, just small, like 0.3 percent by dry weight small.<\/p>\n

But what if you could get a lot<\/em> of industrial hemp and extract the THC? Even a small amount can add up to intoxicating (and profitable) amounts, and, as long as it was produced legally under the Farm Bill, then the extracted THC could be considered legal too.<\/p>\n

Enter chemists\u2014who figured out how to extract THC from large volumes of biomass and add it to flavored seltzers and other shelf-stable beverages. Voil\u00e0: the intoxicating hemp-derived THC beverage is born.<\/p>\n

Thus, a pathway for these intoxicating adult products\u2014and a multibillion-dollar industry\u2014was born, but with no federal oversight and, originally, no status under state law. These products hit the shelves across the country, without any public health or public safety standards to help consumers understand what they are consuming or any safeguards to limit underage access.<\/p>\n

The rapid rise of intoxicating hemp-derived beverages, often marketed as alternatives to drinking alcohol or smoking cannabis, has sparked confusion, concern and controversy. And for good reason.<\/p>\n

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💬”At a minimum, we need a regulatory system that includes age-gating, consistency testing, labeling requirements, permitting, taxation and other public health and safety standards.” \u2013 @FCreighton<\/a>, WSWA President and CEO https:\/\/t.co\/IJtkPTiKP2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 WSWA (@WSWAMedia) June 4, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

These products are intoxicating. Full stop.<\/strong><\/p>\n

They impair judgment, coordination and motor skills\u2014just like beer, wine, spirits or cannabis. Yet, in many states, they\u2019re being sold next to soda and snacks, branded to appeal to young people, and are without meaningful regulation on age restrictions, ingredient disclosures or labeling requirements.<\/p>\n

Allowing these products to be sold without public health safeguards isn\u2019t just irresponsible\u2014it\u2019s dangerous. And the argument that regulation is \u201cprohibition in disguise\u201d is deeply misleading.<\/p>\n

Intoxication, regardless of source, can be a problem not just for the individual, but also to those around them. Just like alcohol, hemp-derived intoxicating products need guardrails and safeguards. Continuing to allow these substances to be sold, potentially even to minors, without oversight, creates real risks in our communities.<\/p>\n

Robust public health standards aren\u2019t government overreach\u2014they\u2019re common sense.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the alcohol industry, we have clear standards like alcohol by volume, helping consumers understand what they\u2019re drinking and avoid overconsumption. It makes just as much sense to have science-based standards for THC per serving and per container.\u00a0This is not new. It\u2019s not controversial. It\u2019s responsible.<\/p>\n

This is a promising sector, and many consumers are embracing these products. But without common sense rules, this market risks collapsing under the weight of its own inconsistency. The status quo is unsustainable.<\/p>\n

We need a regulatory model that works\u2014and we already have one: the alcohol industry\u2019s time-tested, robust regulatory structure.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For nearly a century, it\u2019s delivered consumer safety, accountability and a competitive national marketplace. It\u2019s a tested, scalable framework that could serve hemp beverages well.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be clear\u2014\u201cBig Alcohol\u201d isn\u2019t looking to take over hemp. We\u2019re offering decades of experience, hard-earned knowledge, and a system that works. For nearly a century, America\u2019s wine and spirits wholesalers have responsibly distributed intoxicating products under one of the most effective regulatory frameworks in American commerce.<\/p>\n

We think the alcohol model makes sense, but if there\u2019s a better one, let\u2019s have that conversation. I think we can all agree that at a minimum, we need a regulatory system that includes age-gating, consistency testing, labeling requirements, permitting, taxation and other public health and safety standards.<\/p>\n

The 21st Amendment gave states clear authority to regulate intoxicating products within their borders\u2014and for good reason. States are best positioned to assess local needs, enforce public health rules and ensure compliance.<\/p>\n

The hemp sector\u2019s biggest threat isn\u2019t from alcohol or cannabis\u2014it\u2019s from within. A smart regulatory framework is not a barrier, it\u2019s a bridge to legitimacy, investment and growth.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s build that future together.<\/p>\n

Francis Creighton is president and CEO of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA).<\/em><\/p>\n

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Marijuana And Alcohol Businesses Should Join The Hemp Industry In The Fight For Regulation Instead Of Prohibition (Op-Ed)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The post Alcohol Industry Exec Says Regulation, Not Prohibition Is The Responsible Path For Intoxicating Hemp Drinks (Op-Ed)<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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\nRead More: Alcohol Industry Exec Says Regulation, Not Prohibition Is The Responsible Path For Intoxicating Hemp Drinks (Op-Ed)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cLet\u2019s be clear\u2014\u2019Big Alcohol\u2019 isn\u2019t looking to take over hemp. We\u2019re offering decades of experience, hard-earned knowledge and a system that works.\u201d By Francis Creighton, Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America\u00a0 Today\u2019s trendiest adult beverage isn\u2019t a cocktail or a funky new wine from a new-to-you region. It isn\u2019t aContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":457,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81508"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/457"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81508"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81509,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81508\/revisions\/81509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}